Epilobium parviflorum

Epilobium parviflorum, commonly known as the hoary willowherb[1] or smallflower hairy willowherb,[2] is a herbaceous perennial plant of the family Onagraceae.

Epilobium parviflorum
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Onagraceae
Genus: Epilobium
Species:
E. parviflorum
Binomial name
Epilobium parviflorum
(Schreb.) Schreb.
Synonyms

Chamaenerion parviflorum

Etymology

The genus name derives from the Greek words "epi" meaning "upon" and "lobos" meaning "lobe", with reference to position of the petals above the ovary.[3] The specific Latin name of "parviflorum" means "small flowers".

Description
Whole plant

The biological form of Epilobium parviflorum is hemicryptophyte scapose,[4] as its overwintering buds are situated just below the soil surface and the floral axis is more or less erect with a few leaves.

Epilobium parviflorum reaches on average 30–80 centimetres (12–31 in) in height.[4] The stem is erect and densely covered with hairs, especially in the lower part. The leaves are opposite, unstalked but not amplexicaul, lanceolate and toothed, rounded at the base, 4–10 centimetres (1.6–3.9 in) long. The tiny flowers are pale pink or pale purple, 6–7 millimetres (0.24–0.28 in) in diameter, with four petals, eight stamens and a 4-lobed stigma. Flowering occurs from June to August in the Northern Hemisphere.[4] The hermaphroditic flowers are either self-fertilized (autogamy) or pollinated by insects (entomogamy).[5] Fruit is a three-to seven-centimeter long capsule containing very small black seeds (about 1 mm long), with white fibres that allow the dispersal by wind. This species is quite similar to Epilobium hirsutum, but the flowers are much smaller.[6]

Distribution

This plant occurs in most of Europe, including Britain, from Sweden to Northern Africa and Western Asia up to Kashmir, in United States and Canada.[7] [8]

Habitat

It prefers marshes and swamps, moist mountain meadows and slopes, at an average altitude of 0–1,400 metres (0–4,593 ft) above sea level,[4] with a maximum of 2,500 metres (8,200 ft).

Medicinal uses

Extracts of this plant have been used by traditional medicine in disorders of the prostate gland, bladder and kidney, having an antioxidant and antiinflammatory effect .[9][10][11] Epilobium parviflorum herb has been prescribed internally as tea in the traditional Austrian medicine for treatment of disorders of the prostate, kidneys, and urinary tract.[12] Extracts of Epilobium have been shown to inhibit proliferation of human prostate cells in-vitro by affecting progression of the cell cycle.[13]

References
  1. BSBI List 2007 (xls). Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 2015-06-26. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  2. USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "Epilobium parviflorum". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
  3. "Definition of EPILOBIUM". www.merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  4. Pignatti S. - Flora d'Italia – Edagricole – 1982. Vol. II, pag. 155
  5. Pfaf.org
  6. Flora of Northern Ireland
  7. Plants.usda
  8. Schede di Botanica
  9. "Natures Method". Archived from the original on 2011-09-25. Retrieved 2011-09-15.
  10. Hevesi, BT; Houghton, PJ; Habtemariam, S; Kéry, A (May 2009). "Antioxidant and antiinflammatory effect of Epilobium parviflorum Schreb". Phytotherapy Research. 23 (5): 719–724. doi:10.1002/ptr.2725. PMID 19107731. S2CID 5095826.
  11. V. Steenkamp; M. C. Gouws; M. Gulumian; E. E. Elgorashi; J. van Staden (January 2006). "Studies on antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity of herbal remedies used in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostatitis". Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 103 (1): 71–75. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2005.07.007. PMID 16122891.
  12. Vogl, S; Picker, P; Mihaly-Bison, J; Fakhrudin, N; Atanasov, AG; Heiss, EH; Wawrosch, C; Reznicek, G; Dirsch, VM; Saukel, J; Kopp, B (2013). "Ethnopharmacological in vitro studies on Austria's folk medicine - An unexplored lore in vitro anti-inflammatory activities of 71 Austrian traditional herbal drugs". J Ethnopharmacol. 149 (3): 750–71. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2013.06.007. PMC 3791396. PMID 23770053.
  13. Vitalone, A; et al. (May 2003). "Extracts of various species of Epilobium inhibit proliferation of human prostate cells". J Pharm Pharmacol. 55 (5): 683–90. doi:10.1211/002235703765344603. PMID 12831512. S2CID 23122229.
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